Ear Infection.. keeps returning.

Leto86 · 10-16-2005, 04:47 AM

Okay.. so my dog has had off and on ear infections in his left ear, most of this year. He's been to the vet a number of times. We have this, antibiotic drop that goes into his ear. Surolan I believe its called. Anway.. we've had it cleared up a few times.. But its returned again. So this morning I put the drops into his ear... with a great deal of struggle.. I had to muzzle him because he was trying to bite my head off, then I had to hold his face under my arm and hold up his ear flap as well. cleaned it all out, it wasn't even dirty, just red and stinky. putting the drops in was the hardest part.. because once he saw the bottle or felt it touch his ear.. it seemed like it was the end of the world. he put up the worst strugle.. I ended up getting frustrated and yelling, which didn't solve things or help them. I'm just at a loss.. I don't know what to do anymore.. I tried everything, bribing him, to having two people hold him at tight as they could.
Anyway.. any help on how to clean and medicate his ears would be helpful..
Sarah

Shadowkins · 10-16-2005, 04:56 AM

My dog doesn't like the drops either , mind you, he's finally getting used to it cause I've been doing it off and on for years ( cockers are notorious for ear infections.)
Have you tried warming the bottle of drops first ...sometimes that helps because they HATE cold stuff going in their ears.
Another way to do it is to make him boy lay down and groom him a bit , once he is relaxed then put the drops in and proceed with a treat.
When mine use to fuss and growl, I would lay him down , hold him and say NO. After awhile he got the idea.
Good luck. By the way, just wondering, the vets sell a cleaning solution and if used can reduce ear problems. Can't remember the name but if you're interested let me know , I'll get it for you.

Leto86 · 10-16-2005, 05:05 AM

Okay.. I will try doing that. My dog is a bouv mix, and loves to be groomed.. I never thought of that.
I do ahve a vet ear cleaning solution.. VetLink or something.. but I don't clean his ears as often as I should because I ahve to struggle with him and he clearly doesn't like it, and I don't enjoy myself either.. but I knowit has to be done. =\ I'll just have to try the things you recommended as well.

Shadowkins · 10-16-2005, 05:12 AM

Is it just the drops he hates or the fact you want "in" his ears?
If it's just the liquid ( now this would be for the cleaning solution)
I would put some on a soft cloth ( make the spot on the cloth quite wet) then clean his ears , it leaves less residue in the ear canal and in the end is less itchy for them. I know water in my ears drives me nuts , so I figure it must be the same for them.

doberkim · 10-16-2005, 05:27 AM

i think you need to get to the reason why your dog has chronic ear infections -

top on my list would be heading off to a dermatologist and checking him for allergies - not necessarily FOOD allergies, but environmental.

ear infections should respond immediately and not return. the three options are

1) there is an underlying cause you havent cured up, so they will keep recurring
2) you are using the wrong type of meds or having treated the right type of infection - ie didnt use something to kill yeast, your antibiotic isnt effective, etc.
3) you arent getting the meds in (less likely).

either way, the problem now is even getting the meds in, your dog shouldnt NEED them all the time. its not normal! so i would get him to a dermatologist and figure out WHY he gets these and solve it from the base of the problem

Shadowkins · 10-16-2005, 05:44 AM

Doberkkim makes a good point, all avenues have to be ckecked, talk to your vet.
However, long eared breeds have this problem more often than others because of the "long ears, or floppy ears", this type of ear holds the moisture and dirt and need extra care. I have seen too many dogs with filthy ears ( I help my girlfriend, who is a groomer and has two champion cockers) .
Her advice has served me well over the years.

Leto86 · 10-16-2005, 10:57 AM

He does have floppy ears, and the vet told me that he as more prone to them because they were floppy.
He does have allergies.. he was just at the vet last month for them. He's on Hills presciption diet ZD and was on an antibiotic for infection for a hotspot from the allergies.. and then prednisone for the itchies I believe. They weren' sure if he was allergic to his food or not, but we put him on it just incase. But he is allergic to fleas, but has been treated for them and is flea free, and his reaction to that is pulling his hair out and scratching himself nonstop.

Shadowkins · 10-16-2005, 01:57 PM

I think you're doing everything you can , Sarah, hope the little tricks I gave you work. Let me know OK.
Good Luck

10-16-2005, 04:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Leto86 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Thomas, Ontario Canada Posts: 115 Rep Power: 0	Ear Infection.. keeps returning. Okay.. so my dog has had off and on ear infections in his left ear, most of this year. He's been to the vet a number of times. We have this, antibiotic drop that goes into his ear. Surolan I believe its called. Anway.. we've had it cleared up a few times.. But its returned again. So this morning I put the drops into his ear... with a great deal of struggle.. I had to muzzle him because he was trying to bite my head off, then I had to hold his face under my arm and hold up his ear flap as well. cleaned it all out, it wasn't even dirty, just red and stinky. putting the drops in was the hardest part.. because once he saw the bottle or felt it touch his ear.. it seemed like it was the end of the world. he put up the worst strugle.. I ended up getting frustrated and yelling, which didn't solve things or help them. I'm just at a loss.. I don't know what to do anymore.. I tried everything, bribing him, to having two people hold him at tight as they could. Anyway.. any help on how to clean and medicate his ears would be helpful.. Sarah

10-16-2005, 05:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
doberkim doberslave Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 830 Rep Power: 101	i think you need to get to the reason why your dog has chronic ear infections - top on my list would be heading off to a dermatologist and checking him for allergies - not necessarily FOOD allergies, but environmental. ear infections should respond immediately and not return. the three options are 1) there is an underlying cause you havent cured up, so they will keep recurring 2) you are using the wrong type of meds or having treated the right type of infection - ie didnt use something to kill yeast, your antibiotic isnt effective, etc. 3) you arent getting the meds in (less likely). either way, the problem now is even getting the meds in, your dog shouldnt NEED them all the time. its not normal! so i would get him to a dermatologist and figure out WHY he gets these and solve it from the base of the problem
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10-16-2005, 04:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Shadowkins Shadowkins Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Saskatchewan,Canada Posts: 2,726 Rep Power: 126	My dog doesn't like the drops either , mind you, he's finally getting used to it cause I've been doing it off and on for years ( cockers are notorious for ear infections.) Have you tried warming the bottle of drops first ...sometimes that helps because they HATE cold stuff going in their ears. Another way to do it is to make him boy lay down and groom him a bit , once he is relaxed then put the drops in and proceed with a treat. When mine use to fuss and growl, I would lay him down , hold him and say NO. After awhile he got the idea. Good luck. By the way, just wondering, the vets sell a cleaning solution and if used can reduce ear problems. Can't remember the name but if you're interested let me know , I'll get it for you.

10-16-2005, 05:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Leto86 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Thomas, Ontario Canada Posts: 115 Rep Power: 0	Okay.. I will try doing that. My dog is a bouv mix, and loves to be groomed.. I never thought of that. I do ahve a vet ear cleaning solution.. VetLink or something.. but I don't clean his ears as often as I should because I ahve to struggle with him and he clearly doesn't like it, and I don't enjoy myself either.. but I knowit has to be done. =\ I'll just have to try the things you recommended as well.

10-16-2005, 05:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
Shadowkins Shadowkins Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Saskatchewan,Canada Posts: 2,726 Rep Power: 126	Is it just the drops he hates or the fact you want "in" his ears? If it's just the liquid ( now this would be for the cleaning solution) I would put some on a soft cloth ( make the spot on the cloth quite wet) then clean his ears , it leaves less residue in the ear canal and in the end is less itchy for them. I know water in my ears drives me nuts , so I figure it must be the same for them.

10-16-2005, 05:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
Shadowkins Shadowkins Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Saskatchewan,Canada Posts: 2,726 Rep Power: 126	Doberkkim makes a good point, all avenues have to be ckecked, talk to your vet. However, long eared breeds have this problem more often than others because of the "long ears, or floppy ears", this type of ear holds the moisture and dirt and need extra care. I have seen too many dogs with filthy ears ( I help my girlfriend, who is a groomer and has two champion cockers) . Her advice has served me well over the years.

10-16-2005, 10:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Leto86 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Thomas, Ontario Canada Posts: 115 Rep Power: 0	He does have floppy ears, and the vet told me that he as more prone to them because they were floppy. He does have allergies.. he was just at the vet last month for them. He's on Hills presciption diet ZD and was on an antibiotic for infection for a hotspot from the allergies.. and then prednisone for the itchies I believe. They weren' sure if he was allergic to his food or not, but we put him on it just incase. But he is allergic to fleas, but has been treated for them and is flea free, and his reaction to that is pulling his hair out and scratching himself nonstop.

10-16-2005, 01:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Shadowkins Shadowkins Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Saskatchewan,Canada Posts: 2,726 Rep Power: 126	I think you're doing everything you can , Sarah, hope the little tricks I gave you work. Let me know OK. Good Luck

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